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Abstract:

A plant pot having a built-in soil moisture audio alarm that provides a
caretaker of the plant pot with an audio alarm when the moisture in the
soil in the plant pot falls below a prescribed level.

Claims:

1. A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm comprising:a container
adapted to hold soil and a plant; anda soil moisture audio alarm assembly
mounted to said container and including:(a) a soil moisture sensor
adapted to be embedded in the soil held in said container for:(1) sensing
the degree of moisture of the soil, and(2) providing a moisture output
signal representative of the degree of moisture of the soil,(b) an audio
signal source for transmitting audio signals when activated,(c) audio
alarm means, responsive to signals transmitted from said audio signal
source, for sounding an audio alarm, and(d) control circuit means,
responsive to the moisture output signal, for:(1) sensing the level of
the moisture output signal,(2) activating said audio signal source when
the level of the moisture output signal represents the moisture of the
soil falling below a prescribed threshold level, and(3) conducting the
audio signals transmitted from said audio signal source to said audio
alarm means.

2. A plant pot according to claim 1 wherein:(a) said audio signal source
is an electronic recording of music, and(b) said audio alarm means is a
speaker.

3. A plant pot according to claim 2 wherein said container includes:(a) a
first shell to which said soil moisture audio alarm assembly is mounted,
and(b) a second shell fitted within said first shell adapted to hold the
soil and the plant.

4. A plant pot according to claim 3 further including a soil drainage
retainer screen spaced from the bottom of said second shell to define a
reservoir for water draining from the soil.

5. A plant pot according to claim 1 further including a light sensor
for:(a) sensing the degree of ambient light in the vicinity of said plant
pot, and(b) providing a light output signal representative of the ambient
light in the vicinity of said plant, andwherein said control circuit
means include a disabling circuit, responsive to the light output signal
of said light sensor, for preventing activation of said audio signal
source when the light output signal falls below a prescribed level.

6. A plant pot according to claim 5 wherein:(a) said audio signal source
is an electronic recording of music, and(b) said audio alarm means is a
speaker.

7. A plant pot according to claim 6 wherein said container includes:(a) a
first shell to which said soil moisture audio alarm assembly is mounted,
and(b) a second shell fitted within said first shell adapted to hold the
soil and the plant.

8. A plant pot according to claim 5 further including a soil drainage
retainer screen spaced from the bottom of said second shell to define a
reservoir for water draining from the soil.

9. A plant pot according to claim 2 wherein said control means activate
said audio signal source periodically.

10. A plant pot according to claim 6 wherein said control means activate
said audio signal source periodically.

11. A plant pot according to claim 4 wherein said control means activate
said audio signal source periodically.

12. A plant pot according to claim 8 wherein said control means activate
said audio signal source periodically.

13. A plant pot according to claim 4 wherein said soil moisture sensor
extends through said water reservoir and the portions of said soil
moisture sensor that extend through said water reservoir have a coating
that prevents said moisture sensor from sensing and responding to water
in said water reservoir.

14. A plant pot according to claim 8 wherein the portions of said soil
moisture sensor that extend through said water reservoir have a coating
that prevents said soil moisture sensor from sensing and responding to
water in said water reservoir.

15. A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm comprising:a container
adapted to hold soil and a plant; andaudio soil moisture level indicator
means mounted to said container and including:(a) a soil moisture sensor
adapted to be embedded in the soil held in said container for sensing the
degree of moisture of the soil and providing a low-moisture indication
when the moisture of the soil falls below a prescribed moisture level,(b)
an audio alarm for sounding, when energized, an alarm when the moisture
of the soil held in said container falls below the prescribed moisture
level, and(c) control circuit means between said soil moisture sensor and
said audio alarm and responsive to a low-moisture indication of said soil
moisture sensor for energizing said audio alarm.

16. A plant pot according to claim 15 wherein said container includes:(a)
a first shell to which said audio alarm and said control circuit means
are mounted, and(b) a second shell fitted within said first shell adapted
to hold the soil and the plant, andsaid plant pot further Includes a soil
drainage retainer screen spaced from the bottom of said second shell to
define a reservoir for water draining from the soil.

17. A plant pot according to claim 15 further including a light sensor
for:(a) sensing the degree of ambient light in the vicinity of said plant
pot, and(b) providing a light output signal representative of the ambient
light in the vicinity of said plant, andwherein said control circuit
means include a disabling circuit, responsive to the light output signal
of said light sensor, for preventing energizing of said audio alarm when
the light output signal falls below a prescribed level.

18. A plant pot according to claim 16 further including a light sensor
for:(a) sensing the degree of ambient light in the vicinity of said plant
pot, and(b) providing a light output signal representative of the ambient
light in the vicinity of said plant, andwherein said control circuit
means include a disabling circuit, responsive to the light output signal
of said light sensor, for preventing energizing of said audio alarm when
the light output signal falls below a prescribed level

19. A plant pot according to claim 16 wherein said soil moisture sensor
extends through said water reservoir and the portions of said soil
moisture sensor that extend through said water reservoir have a coating
that prevents said soil moisture sensor from sensing and responding to
water in said water reservoir.

20. A plant pot according to claim 18 wherein said soil moisture sensor
extends through said water reservoir and the portions of said soil
moisture sensor that extend through said water reservoir have a coating
that prevents said soil moisture sensor from sensing and responding to
water in said water reservoir.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates, in general, to plant soil moisture
monitoring and, in particular, to a plant pot having a low moisture audio
alarm that warns a plant caretaker that a plant in the pot needs water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]It is well known that plants require adequate watering to survive.
Many plant moisture monitoring devices are currently commercially
available for plant caretakers or are disclosed in the prior art.
Typically, these moisture monitoring devices are small units that plant
caretakers stick into the plant soil and provide the plant caretakers
with visual or audio notice of low plant soil moisture.

[0003]The commercially available or known plant soil moisture monitoring
devices have a number of shortcomings. Visual alarms or warnings of low
plant soil moisture require that plant caretakers have lines of sight or
be in proximity to the plant to receive indications of low plant soil
moisture. A plant soil moisture monitoring device that is stuck into a
plant, if not aesthetically pleasing, can detract from the beauty of the
plant. With beauty of the plant being of primary, if not sole, importance
to plant caretakers, a plant caretaker is likely to find it necessary to
remove a plant soil moisture monitoring device that is not aesthetically
pleasing after conducting each moisture test and store the monitoring
device till the next moisture test is conducted. The one plant soil
moisture monitoring device having an audio alarm that is known to
Applicant must be removed from the plant and stored away if the plant
caretaker does not want to hear or be disturbed with an audio alarm at
selected times, such as when sleeping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004]A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm, constructed in
accordance with the present invention, comprises a container that is
adapted to hold soil and a plant and a soil moisture audio alarm assembly
mounted to the container. The soil moisture audio alarm assembly includes
a soil moisture sensor, adapted to be embedded in the soil held in the
container, that senses the degree of moisture of the soil and provides a
moisture output signal representative of the degree of moisture of the
soil. The soil moisture audio alarm assembly also includes an audio
signal source for transmitting audio signals when activated and audio
alarm means, responsive to signals transmitted from the audio signal
source, for sounding an audio alarm. The soil moisture audio alarm
assembly further includes control circuit means, responsive to the
moisture output signal, for sensing the level of the moisture output
signal, activating the audio signal source when the level of the moisture
output signal represents the moisture of the soil falling below a
prescribed threshold level, and conducting the audio signals transmitted
from the audio signal source to the audio alarm means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plant pot having a soil moisture
audio alarm constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 plant pot.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the FIG. 2 plant pot taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the FIG. 3 plant pot taken along line
4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the FIG. 2 plant pot.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic view of a printed circuit board
that can be included in a plant pot constructed in accordance with the
present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011]Referring to the drawings, a plant pot having a soil moisture audio
alarm, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a
container 10 adapted to hold soil, represented schematically by a
plurality of balls 12, and a plant 14. Container 10 may take many
different forms and be made from a suitable plastic or ceramic material.

[0012]For the embodiment of the present invention being described and
illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, container 10 is composed of
a first shell 10a to which a soil moisture audio alarm assembly (that is
described below) is mounted and a second shell 10b fitted within the
first shell that is adapted to hold soil and a plant. In this manner, the
soil moisture audio alarm assembly, mounted in the first shell, is
moisture-sealed from water in the soil held in the second shell. A soil
drainage retainer screen 16, illustrated in FIG. 4, is spaced from the
bottom of shell 10b, as shown in FIG. 3, to define a reservoir at the
bottom of shell 10b for water draining from the soil if the plant has
been overwatered. The drainage of water from the soil mitigates the risk
of rotting of the plant roots that can result from overwatering.

[0013]A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm, constructed in
accordance with the present invention, also includes a soil moisture
audio alarm assembly mounted to shell 10a of container 10. This soil
moisture audio alarm assembly includes a soil moisture sensor 18, 18 that
projects through soil drainage retainer screen 16 and is adapted to be
embedded in the soil, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 3. Soil
moisture sensor 18, 18 senses the degree of moisture of the soil held in
shell 10b of container 10 and provides a moisture output signal
representative of the degree of moisture of the soil. For the embodiment
of the present invention being described and illustrated by the drawings,
the portions of soil moisture sensor 18, 18 that extend through the water
reservoir at the bottom of shell 10b are coated with a suitable material,
so that the soil moisture sensor will not sense and be prevented from
responding to water that might collect in the water reservoir. Soil
moisture sensor 18, 18 may be of conventional construction and operation
that includes metal probes currently available from YUE AO WU JIN HUANG
FACTORY (China) Part No. 414-92486.

[0014]The soil moisture audio alarm assembly also includes an audio signal
source, identified by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 6, which, when
activated, transmits audio signals. Audio signal source 20, as shown in
FIG. 6, may be a part of a printed circuit board 22. Audio signal source
20 may be an electronic recording of music such as the voice chip circuit
that is currently available from Alpha Microelectroniic Corp (Taiwan)
Model No. AM4GC0790502.

[0015]The soil moisture audio alarm assembly further includes an audio
alarm means 24 which, in response to the audio signals transmitted from
audio signal source 20, is energized and sounds an audio alarm that gives
notice to the plant caretaker of a low soil moisture condition. Audio
alarm means 24 may be a speaker such as the one that is currently
available from Kam Kit Electronics., Ltd. (China) Model No. YD-57-N.

[0016]The soil moisture audio alarm assembly further includes control
circuit means, identified by reference numeral 26 in FIG. 6, which, in
response to the moisture output signal from moisture sensor 18, 18, sense
the level of the moisture output signal, activate audio signal source 20
when the level of the moisture output signal represents the moisture of
the soil falling below a prescribed threshold level, and conduct the
audio signals transmitted from the audio signal source to audio alarm
means 24 to sound an audio alarm that gives notice to the plant caretaker
of a low soil moisture condition. Control circuit means 26 may be a main
MCU (Micro Control Unit) such as the one that is currently available from
Alpha Microelectroniic Corp (Taiwan) Model No. AM8EBO53A. Preferably,
control circuit means 26 activate audio signal source 20 periodically,
for example once every hour, rather can continuously, to conserve power.
Control circuit means 26, as shown in FIG. 6, also may be part of printed
circuit board 22

[0017]An ON/OFF switch 28, illustrated in FIG. 5 as being located at the
bottom of shell 10a in the embodiment of the present invention being
described, is connected to control circuit means 26 and serves to turn
the soil moisture audio alarm assembly "ON" when in a first position and
"OFF" when in a second position. ON/OFF switch 28 can be arranged with a
third position that permits the plant caretaker to turn the soil moisture
audio alarm assembly "ON" by closing a switch, such as a push-button
switch 30 that is connected to control circuit means 26, to activate
audio signal source 20 and hear the electronic recording of the audio
signals transmitted from the audio signal source without soil moisture
sensor 18, 18 having sensed a low soil moisture condition.

[0018]A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm, constructed in
accordance with the present invention, preferably includes means for
disabling the soil moisture audio alarm assembly during night time, so
the plant caretaker is not disturbed by audio emanating from audio alarm
means 24 while he or she might be sleeping. Such means include, for the
embodiment of the present invention being described and illustrated by
the drawings, a light sensor 32 that senses the degree of ambient light
in the vicinity of the plant pot and provides a light output signal
representative of the ambient light In the vicinity of the plant pot. The
light output signal from light sensor 32 disables control circuit means
26 which prevents activation of audio signal sound source 20 when the
light output signal from the light sensor falls below a prescribed level
indicative of night time. Light sensor 32 may be a light sensor such as
the one that is currently available from SUPER BRIGHT INDUSTRIAL LTD.
(Taiwan) Part No. PT224C. The circuitry for disabling soil moisture audio
alarm assembly may be incorporated in control circuit means 26.

[0019]For the embodiment of the present invention being described and
illustrated by the drawings, a plurality of batteries 34 that provide
power to the soil moisture audio alarm assembly are housed in a battery
box 36. A battery box door 38, at the bottom of shell 10a and illustrated
most clearly in FIG. 5, provides access to batteries 34.

[0020]A plant pot having a soil moisture audio alarm assembly that is
battery powered preferably includes a low voltage detector circuit,
identified by reference numeral 40 in FIG. 6, that sends a signal to
control circuit means 26 when the voltage of batteries 34 drops below a
prescribed level and the control circuit means, in turn, cause an
indicator 42, for example an LED, shown in FIG. 1, to illuminate, either
intermittently or steadily, alerting the plant caretaker of the low
voltage condition and prompting the plant caretaker to change the
batteries. As shown in FIG. 6, low voltage detector 40 may be part of
printed circuit board 22. Chipower Technology (China) Model No. CE8808
such can serve as the low voltage detector. It is understood that the
soil moisture audio alarm assembly can be arranged to be powered by line
voltage instead of by batteries.

[0021]Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with
reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be
limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made
in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims
and without departing from the invention.